Melissa Wijfje

Melissa Wijfje (born 21 July 1995) is a retired Dutch allround speed skater who specialized in the middle and long distances. She is a two-time European champion in the team pursuit.

Career

In 2015 Wijfje won the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Warsaw, Poland after winning the 1500 and 3000 m events. Additionally she won the gold medal at the team pursuit event with Sanneke de Neeling and Esmee Visser.

Wijfje finished third at the ISU World Cup 5000 m event in Heerenveen in December 2016, her first career World Cup medal.

Wijfje pulled off an upset victory by winning the 1500m at the 2020 Dutch Single Distance Championships, winning her first national title. Later that season, together with Ireen Wüst and Antoinette de Jong, she took the team pursuit gold at the European Championships in Heerenveen, and won a silver in the team pursuit at the World Single Distances Championships in Salt Lake City.

Wijfje missed out on qualification for the 2022 Winter Olympics and struggled with a persistent lower leg injury in following seasons.

Following the 2025–26 season, Wijfje announced her retirement at age 30.

Personal life In 2024, Wijfje married fellow speed skater Marcel Bosker.

Personal records

As of 23 January 2022, Wijfje was placed 15th on the adelskalender with a points total of 158.148.

Tournament overview Season Dutch Championships Single Distances Dutch Championships Allround World Championships Single Distances World Championships Juniors World Cup GWC European Championships Single Distances World Championships Allround Dutch Championships Sprint 2013–14 21st 1000m 11th 1500m 14th 3000m 4th 500m 1500m 1000m 3000m overall** 1000m 1500m 3000m team pursuit (with Antoinette de Jong and Jade van der Molen) 2014–15 12th 1000m 6th 1500m 9th 3000m 7th 500m 9th 3000m 4th 1500m 7th 5000m 7th overall 7th 500m 1500m 4th 1000m 3000m overall** 1500m 3000m mass start team pursuit (with Sanneke de Neeling and Esmee Visser) 2015–16 18th 1000m 7th 1500m 13th 3000m 10th 5000m 8th 500m 6th 3000m 1500m 5th 5000m 4th overall 2016–17 12th 1500m 8th 3000m 12th 5000m mass start 7th 500m 3000m 4th 1500m 7th 5000m 6th overall 8th 1500m 4th 3000m 2017–18 7th 1500m 7th 3000m 8th 5000m 4th 500m 3000m 1500m 5th 5000m overall 30th 1500m 11th 3000m team pursuit 2018–19 1500m 7th 3000m 7th 5000m 5th mass start 500m 4th 3000m 1500m 5th 5000m 4th overall 6th 1500m 10th mass start 6th 1500m 7th 3000m 8th mass start 2019–20 1500m 7th 3000m 6th 5000m 4th mass start 500m 3000m 1500m 5000m overall 11th mass start 4th 1500m 19th 3000/5000m 5th mass start team pursuit 4th 1500m mass start team pursuit 6th 500m 4th 3000m 6th 1500m 5th 5000m 5th overall 2020–21 1500m 8th 3000m 6th 5000m 5th 500m 3000m 1500m 4th 5000m overall 9th 1500m 16th 500m 5th 1000m 17th 500m 5th 1000m 11th overall 2021–22 12th 1500m 5th 3000m 6th 5000m 10th mass start 5th 500m 4th 3000m 1500m 4th 5000m overall Source: Overall classification determined for allrounders

World Cup overview

Season Season 1500 meter 2016–2017 9th 7th 8th 6th 10th 8th 2017–2018 – 18th 18th 18th 18th 18th 2018–2019 11th 7th 17th 12th 6th 5th 2019–2020 8th 4th 7th 8th 2020–2021 12th 10th Season Season 3000 meter 2016–2017 6th 9th 7th 8th 2017–2018 – – – 9th 6th 6th 2018–2019 10th 7th 9th 7th 5th 9th 2019–2020 1st(b) 9th 10th – – – 2020–2021 2nd(b) 11th Season Season Mass start 2016–2017 2017–2018 2018–2019 12th 9th 5th 9th 15th 2019–2020 8th 6th 10th – 2020–2021 – – – 5th Season Season Team pursuit 2016–2017 2017–2018 2018–2019 2019–2020 – 2020–2021 Source:

– = Did not participate = 5000m (b) = Division B DNF = Did not finish GWC = Grand World Cup